Gene technology committees

The Act establishes two committees whose role is to give advice to the Regulator and the LGFGT on matters relating to gene technology. These are the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee (GTTAC) and the Gene Technology Ethics and Community Consultative Committee (GTECCC).

Committee relationship structure

The figure below shows the relationships between the committees, the Regulator and the LGFGT (click on each box to go to that committee’s webpage).

The LGFGT provides broad oversight of the regulatory scheme and policy principles. It is established by the intergovernmental Gene Technology Agreement 2001 and is comprised of ministers from the Commonwealth and each state and territory. The Gene Technology Standing Committee, a committee of senior officials from all jurisdictions, provides high-level support to the LGFGT.

The Regulator is required to consider policy principles and guidelines that the LGFGT issues when making licensing decisions on dealing with GMOs. The Regulator also provides advice to the LGFGT.

When the Regulator assesses each DIR licence application, the staff of OGTR—with the guidance from the Regulator—prepare a risk assessment and risk management plan (RARMP). The Regulator requests advice from GTTAC on these RARMPs.

More information on the work of the committees including communiqués and other publications can be found on the GTTAC and GTECCC web pages.